sign in sign up
<<
Home , Artern, Baden (wine region), Goseck, Goseck circle, Karsdorf, Memleben

Environmental Earth Sciences (2018) 77:58 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-7222-4

THEMATIC ISSUE

The ‑ cultural landscape corridor

M. Hoppert1 · B. Bahn2 · E. Bergmeier3 · M. Deutsch4 · K. Epperlein5 · C. Hallmann1,6 · A. Müller7 · T. V. Platz8,9 · T. Reeh4 · H. Stück8,10 · W. Wedekind8 · S. Siegesmund8

Received: 19 October 2017 / Accepted: 30 December 2017 © Springer-Verlag GmbH , part of Springer Nature 2018

Abstract Cultural landscapes are the result of long-term –environment interaction, but they are nevertheless worldwide vulner- able to processes of global change such as land-use change, urbanization, neglect and abandonment. The cultural landscape mosaic along the rivers Saale and Unstrut (Germany, Central Uplands) provides many features of (pre-)historical human activities, in particular since the . Most of these elements occur in what can be defned as “cultural landscape corridor” along the river valleys, thus conveying a broad insight in historic land-use, including , and architecture of the past centuries in a nutshell. The area has been nominated for inscription in the List of World Heritage, due to its famous components in , Freyburg and that representatively refect cultural processes of the . However, population loss and land-use change as as neglect of lower-ranking monuments may lead to a gradual decline of the historical cultural landscape and its multiple elements. In this contribution, we summarize the landscape development in the Saale-Unstrut area and discuss measures to raise awareness of selected elements of a coherent cultural landscape corridor.

Keywords Cultural landscape · Cultural heritage · Historic monument · Monument preservation

Introduction habitat fragmentation is regarded as one of the biggest prob- lems in the conservation of endangered animal and plant In our intensively used landscape, human-made structures species (e.g., Tillmann 2005 and references therein). There- such as transport routes lead to progressive fragmentation fore, the reconnection of habitat fragments is considered as of natural habitats. Apart from the degradation of biotopes, an important goal of nature conservation. Wildlife corridors (habitat corridors) link biotopes (e.g., Jaeger et al. 2011), prevent further decline of populations of endangered animal This article is part of a Topical Collection in Environmental and plant species and allow (re-)immigration of species into Earth Sciences on “Stone in the Architectural Heritage: from an area. These corridors are usually linear structures such as quarry to monuments—environment, exploitation, properties and durability”, guest edited by Siegfried Siegesmund, Luís Sousa, and Rubén Alfonso López-Doncel.

* M. Hoppert 6 Present Address: Leibnitz Institut für Pfanzenbiochemie, [email protected] , Germany 7 Geologisch‑Paläontologische Sammlung, Institut für 1 Mikrobiologie und Genetik, Universität Göttingen, Geophysik und Geologie, Universität , Leipzig, Göttingen, Germany Germany 2 Landesamt für Denkmalpfege und Archäologie 8 Strukturgeologie und Geodynamik, Göttinger Zentrum Sachsen-Anhalt, Halle, Germany Geowissenschaften, Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, 3 Albrecht‑von‑Haller‑Institut für Pfanzenwissenschaften, Germany Vegetationsanalyse und Phytodiversität, Universität 9 Present Address: Industrieverband Steine und Erden Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany -Württemberg e.V, Ostfldern, Germany 4 Geographisches Institut, Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, 10 Present Address: Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Germany Rohstofe, Hannover, Germany 5 Mitteldeutsches Institut für Weinforschung, Hochschule Anhalt, Köthen, Germany

Vol.:(0123456789)1 3 58 Page 2 of 12 Environmental Earth Sciences (2018) 77:58 hedges or wild bridges creating the impression for an animal extending over wide parts of central Asia (Anonymous of not leaving its natural habitat. 2013a; Williams 2014). The Upper Middle Valley A “cultural landscape corridor” is an integrative concept is another example for a “corridor,” renowned for its high allowing the (human) visitor to get the experience of not leav- number of important monuments in a cultural landscape bor- ing a cultural landscape—with respect both to semi-natural dering a 65 km section of the river Rhine. The area has been habitats and to historic land-use, landmarks, architecture etc. approved as World Heritage site in 2003, though high trafc This cannot be achieved entirely, of course, since historic land- load in the valley is considered as a major drawback in view scapes are the result of a long-term development and contain, of its attractiveness for visitors (Anonymous 2008, 2013b). in varying proportions, multiple items of diferent epochs. The area discussed here, the lower Unstrut and parts of the The area along the river valleys near the confuence of Saale middle Saale valley, is, compared to the examples mentioned and Unstrut in -Anhalt (Germany) ofers many features above, a small “corridor” (50 km between Wendelstein/ for a “cultural landscape corridor.” This term should be under- and Naumburg). Waterways and paths along the stood as it is used for the “Erie canalway national heritage cor- rivers guide, along clifs and vineyards through a hilly ter- ridor” extending nearly 600 km between Albany and Bufalo, rain, to many features and important landmarks of a cultural NY (Anonymous 2006). For this project, a comprehensive plan landscape (Figs. 1, 2). Climatic, topographic and soil condi- for a corridor was established, protecting historic landmarks tions promoted intensive settlement activity along the lower and natural habitats, in order to support the conservation of Unstrut and the middle Saale. From to present, the an extended area along the Erie Canal, in particular as tourist cultural landscape incorporates relicts of the cultural history attraction. One focus was the importance of a waterway for the of all epochs. Most of them are accessible during a short economic development during the past 200 years. round trip, in particular important and identity-generating However, “corridors,” if too extensive, may lose their historic monuments of the High Middle Ages (Schmitt 2014). function as a link between too far apart places of interest. In the present article, starting with a geological and ecore- This issue was discussed for the entire system of silk roads gional outline of the Unstrut and the Unstrut/Saale river mouth as a world heritage site (or some smaller sections of them), area, several aspects of the cultural landscape are addressed,

barrow cemetery outcrop Vitzenburg Mücheln dry grassland barrow palace turf maze palace Boendorf historic center quarry Karsdorfer Hänge outcrops, Wendelstein outcrops Braunsbedra Arche Nebra vineyard outcrops Lagerstäe castle dry grassland Wangen Geiseltal monastery outcrops xerothermic forest Memleben barrow Burgscheidungen palace

outcrop Laucha Freyburg historic center historic center monastery watermill, weir vineyard Schloss Neuenburg walls castle circular enclosure castle dry grassland Blütengrund vineyard rock monument Schönburg Naumburg castle outcrop historic center Bad Kösen outcrop industrialheritage rock monument secular buildg. Schulpforta monastery Bustädt historic center castle outcrop castles

Fig. 1 The cultural landscape corridor delineating the courses of the (brown—geosites, yellow—prehistoric sites, orange—architecture, rivers Unstrut (upper left to lower right part of the image) and Saale green—important habitats). The map shows a 45 × 25 km section. (lower right). Important elements of the landscape are marked by dots (Base map according to opentopomap.org.)

1 3 Environmental Earth Sciences (2018) 77:58 Page 3 of 12 58

Fig. 2 Aspects of the relief, geology and viticulture and early indus- outcrop in Schönburg (Saale). e Vineyards at the location Nüssen- trial architecture of the Saale-Unstrut cultural landscape corridor. a berg (near Weischütz; above the vineyards dry grassland on Muschel- Floodplain of the Unstrut near Zscheiplitz. b The old, pre- and inter- kalk). f The Zeddenbach water mill near Freyburg, a monument of the glacial valley of the Unstrut near Zscheiplitz. c Limestone outcrop industrial age around 1900 near Zeddenbach (Lower Muschelkalk). d Middle Buntsandstein thereby exemplifying specifc problems, and attempting to valley cuts through the Muschelkalk ridge “” (the raise public awareness and to highlight local preservation “Thuringian Gate”) and passes the medieval castle ruin measures. “Wendelstein,” crowning a gypsum rock of the Kyfhäuser fault zone. In its lower course, the Unstrut valley forms steep slopes, cutting through the Lower Triassic Middle The Unstrut—evolution of a cultural Buntsandstein. Between Wendelstein and Nebra, the Bunt- landscape sandstein strata dip toward north and the soft clays of the Upper Buntsandstein form the northern slopes of the val- The current valley of the lower Unstrut was formed dur- ley that opens southwards to a wide basin. Near , ing the Drenthe stage of the Saale glaciation (300,000— the bedrock consists of Muschelkalk, forming steep slopes 130,000 years BP; cf. Fig. 2a, b). Today, the Unstrut between Laucha and Freyburg. North of Naumburg, the

1 3 58 Page 4 of 12 Environmental Earth Sciences (2018) 77:58

Unstrut fows into the river Saale. The northern slopes sector was still mentioned in a sixteenth century document of the river valley at the “Blütengrund,” again, consist of (Schmidt 1934) and the village Flemmingen (Naumburg) is Middle Buntsandstein. reminiscent of the Flemish. Not just in the name of the vil- Presence of in the region dates back to the Mid- lage, but also in its site complex, Flemish settlement activity dle (Holstein interglacial) well before the cur- is still identifable (Schlesinger 1975). In the Early Modern rent Unstrut riverbed was shaped (e.g., Vlček et al. 2000). Age, along with rapid development of , the num- During the last glaciation, the Weichselian, the deposition of ber of documents describing the economic use of the river loess provided the basis for fertile soils and hence the devel- Unstrut increased. Water mills and weirs were constructed, opment of agriculture. Archeological sites of the the river was excavated, meanders were removed, tow- Linear Culture are regularly associated with loess paths and locks were constructed. By the end of the eight- deposits (e.g., Bahn 2014). Accumulated deposits of loam eenth century, the river was a navigable waterway. This, of in foodplains may be an indicator for increasing erosion course, essentially changed the appearance of the river until of soil due to intensifcation of agriculture. At that time, today (Fig. 2f). the frst cultural landscape along the river may have been The courses of the rivers Unstrut and Saale mark the land- shaped (cf. Jäger 1962; Litt and Wansa 2008; Bahn 2014). scape corridor within an area of few kilometers. Besides By Middle Neolithic, a regional population density similar stone monuments (castles, monasteries, secular buildings) to that of the Middle Ages may be assumed. For Linear Pot- and other historic landmarks, landscape elements associated tery culture and Stroked Pottery culture extensive settlement with viticulture are of major importance (Figs. 1, 2). activity along the Lower Unstrut was revealed; an important prehistoric landmark of that time, the , has been reconstructed (Bertemes and Northe 2011). The fol- Viticulture and related vegetation lowing extended the settlement activity of its predecessors. The construction of a new railway route Vineyards and viticulture have been recorded since the end in southern Saxony-Anhalt between 1994 and 2010 provided of the tenth century (cf. Wittmann 2008 and references further insight in the prehistoric development of the region. therein). The area under cultivation fuctuated during the Settlement activity of the and the Fun- Early Modern Age and reached a minimum in the late nine- nelbeaker culture (3rd century BC) was documented. The teenth century during the time of the Phylloxera epidemic. latter forms the transition from the late Neolithic to early Currently, 750 ha are under cultivation. Still, all landmarks Bronze Age. The spectacular from a “wealth of the long history of viticulture will promote the identif- deposit” near Nebra was assigned to the Bronze Age Únětice cation as a wine-producing region (cf. Fig. 2e). Arranged culture. Analysis of trace metals revealed extensive trading parallel to the upper course of the Unstrut (and Saale as networks for copper, tin and gold used for manufacturing the well), they delineate the cultural landscape corridor. As disk (e.g., Ehser et al. 2011). The Únětice culture settlements large machinery can only be employed in fat or moderately near Wennungen (Karsdorf) were partially superimposed by sloped terrain but not on the steep narrowly terraced tra- layers of settlements of the late Bronze Age/early Iron Age. ditional vineyard slopes, the future of viticulture on some The use of iron, which could be mined from many local pits, of the historic vineyards is uncertain. Some vineyards have greatly simplifed ore prospection. been abandoned, and many vineyard walls are disintegrating. Many settlements along the Unstrut and Saale docu- The preservation of viticulture on important traditional sites mented the upcoming of the Celtic La Tène culture of the (e.g., Schweigenberge/Freyburg) was achieved by incentive pre-Roman Iron Age; also settlement of Germanic tribes programs supporting agriculture on marginal lands (e.g., immigrating from the north was evident. Many artifacts Anonymous 2015). The abandonment of terraced vineyards assigned to the following time of the Roman Empire were goes along with a loss of vineyard specifc herbs that depend also found along the lower Unstrut and the Saale area. These on the traditional manual ways of tillage (Bergmeier and fnd-spots are mostly associated with still existing towns, Möhler 2014). Among other rare plants of regularly hoed indicative for a permanent settlement at specifc locations ground, the so-called “Hackfora,” early fowering geophytes over nearly 2000 years (Bahn 2014). Many trading activities with bulbs as storage organs have been identifed in vine- are also refected by the course of the during the yard complexes of the Lower Unstrut: Gagea villosa (hairy time of the , crossing the river Unstrut star-of-Bethlehem), Muscari neglectum (grape hyacinth), near Naumburg. Ornithogalum nutans (drooping star-of-Bethlehem) and During the twelfth century, monks from the Cistercian Tulipa sylvestris (wild tulip). In the last 3–4 decades, modern monastery of Walkenried as well as Flemish settlers were viticultural methods such as herbicide application, deep till- active in the Unstrut valley, constructing drainage ridges age, and greening of lanes between the grapevine lines with and dams. A “Flemish ditch” in the Ritteburg/ perennial grasses contributed to the “Hackfora” decline.

1 3 Environmental Earth Sciences (2018) 77:58 Page 5 of 12 58

Muscari and Tulipa reproduce mainly asexually by bulbils, while the others reproduce also sexually and disperse by seeds. Generally, Gagea villosa and Muscari neglectum grow predominantly on steep sunny slopes in vineyards, where weeds are traditionally removed by hoeing (but not by deep plowing). Hoeing afects chiefy competitive plants but favors bulbous plants and annuals developing early in the year. Ornithogalum nutans and Tulipa sylvestris have largely disappeared from the cultivated sections but may still be observed at the margins of vineyards, in semi-shaded, mesic locations with reasonable water supply. Other important features in the local cultural landscape are historic vineyard terrace walls and ruins. Generally, human-made walls copy natural rock outcrops (the latter Fig. 3 Ruderalized sites are not necessarily home to endangered spe- are uncommon in much of Central ) and are of par- cies (other than, e.g., dry grassland), but provide resources to many ticular interest as they represent semi-natural and cultural species of fauna and fora and add substantially to local biodiversity. landscape elements at the same time. Some old terrace walls Moreover, they add interesting phenological aspects to a cultural are relevant for the conservation of rare animal and plant landscape (ruderalized vineyard near Karsdorf, midsummer aspect) species as well as whole plant communities and ecosystems. Such plant ensembles, sometimes tightly packed with spe- until the end of the Triassic. Volcanic deposits and erosional cies of Sedum (stonecrops) and Asplenium (spleenworts), products of the Variscan Mountains (Rotliegend) formed with Cymbalaria muralis (ivy-leaved toadfax), rarely even the initial stratigraphic units. Later on, transgressions and with naturalized Antirrhinum majus (snapdragon), provide regressions resulted in alternating continental, fuvial, lacus- “eye-catching” aspects to the vegetation cover. The ruderal trine and marine depositional environments and thus in a vegetation of vineyard margins and castle ruins consist of large variety of the resulting rock types. In the Saale-Unstrut species-rich plant communities, chiefy of thermophilous tall area, the almost complete occurrence of the Germanic Tri- thistles and mulleins such as Onopordum acanthium, Ver- assic supergroup (Buntsandstein, Muschelkalk, Keuper; cf. bascum densiforum, Echinops sphaerocephalus, Carduus Fig. 2c, d), including Zechstein (Upper Permian) manifest as nutans and C. acanthoides. The large size of these bien- outcrops in the area of the cultural landscape corridor (Mül- nial or perennial plants and their large fowers add seasonal ler et al. 2014). While all these rocks are important resources aspects and contribute, if unconsciously for most, to the for dimension stone throughout Germany, long-term resist- individual perception of the cultural landscape. Moreover, ance to weathering of rocks from diferent strata is extremely the rather long fowering season and the enormous nectar variable (Stück et al. 2013, 2018, Fig. 4). and pollen supply add considerably to the available food The reddish colored Buntsandstein and limestone from resources for beetles, butterfies, moths and other insect Muschelkalk strata were attractive building stones for rep- groups. The same applies to the vegetation of neglected resentative church and secular buildings, which are now vineyards (Fig. 3) and roadsides, which includes Dau- among the most important tourist attractions in Germany. cus carota (wild carrot), Picris hieracioides (hawkweed Usable dimension stone was gained from specifc strata, oxtongue), Reseda lutea (wild mignonette) and R. luteola like the “Schaumkalk” limestone beds of the Wellenkalk (weld), Echium vulgare (viper’s bugloss), Tragopogon formation or the Nebra sandstone (Solling Formation of the dubius and T. orientalis (western annual goat’s beard and Middle Buntsandstein). Some important buildings, Saaleck eastern goat’s beard). On wall bases and limestone debris, and , the inner ward of the Neuenburg, the former pioneer communities with Galeopsis angustifolia (red hemp- monastery Schulpforte, the , and many nettle), Pseudofumaria lutea (yellow corydalis), Antirrhinum smaller historic buildings are mainly built of “Schaum- majus (snapdragon) and Asplenium ruta-muraria (wall-rue) kalk” limestone. The castle Schönburg (Saale), erected on may be found in wall gaps. a sandstone clif east of Naumburg, was constructed from outcropping Buntsandstein of the Hardegsen (reddish) and Solling formation (gray yellow). A unique stone monu- Dimension stone in the Saale‑Unstrut region ment, the “Stone Album” (“Steinernes Bilderbuch,” see below), the largest relief group in Germany, also consists The Variscan foreland basin (Germanic basin, Germanis- of Buntsandstein. The Stone Album is a 200-meter-long ches Becken) was formed in the Upper Permian, covered relief of twelve pictures, of which eleven biblical themes almost the whole of present-day Central Europe and existed are devoted to viticulture; the twelfth shows Duke Christian

1 3 58 Page 6 of 12 Environmental Earth Sciences (2018) 77:58

Seebergen Reußen Rhätkeuper Lower Muschelkalk

Nebra Friedewald Wangen -Fm. Solling-Fm. Bernburg-Fm. (Chirotheriensandstein)

Wendelstein Bernburg Werra-anhydrite Bernburg-Fm. (Rogenstein)

Fig. 4 Analysis of weathering phenomena. Left: artifcially weath- ance against salt crystallization considerably difers among varieties ered building stone samples subjected to “salt splitting tests” by sev- of Buntsandstein rock. Except from Seebergen and Friedewald, all eral cycles of soaking with sodium sulfate solution and subsequent other localities are in the Saale/Unstrut area (cf. Stück et al. 2018) drying. As also documented for stones in a wall section (right), resist-

II of Saxony-Weißenfels on horseback. The rock monument view, they are often problematic, since their preservation is exposed to severe weathering, and long-term preservation is complex and elaborate, and employment of machines in may be difcult (Wedekind 2014, Fig. 5). the vineyard is proved difcult. There is also a tendency to At the Wendelstein rock, the bright, grayish-white Werra replace the laborious viticulture on terraced steep slopes anhydrite (Zechstein series) rises over the valley of the by culturing in rather plain terrain, which leaves the aban- Unstrut. The partially ruined Wendelstein castle, likewise doned vineyards and terraces gradually decaying. consists of anhydrite, is situated at the hilltop above a river bend. Due to successive hydration of the anhydrous calcium sulfate and re-transformation to gypsum, along with substan- Challenged cultural heritage in a cultural tial volume increase of the anhydrite the ruins show peculiar landscape corridor: some examples weathering phenomena (Fig. 6). Furthermore, intense karst and measures for restoration phenomena are visible. An important architectural of the region is the Besides natural and human-infuenced habitats, architectural dry wall used for the terracing of vineyards. Walls to sta- monuments are essential features of the cultural landscape bilize terraces are built of the various locally available corridor and it is a continuous task to keep them visible. rocks, mostly without mortar. Running parallel to the Damage and neglect of monuments need to be detected and river valleys the walls are taking up the linearity of the mapped, and monitoring helps to improve knowledge on the “corridor”. This is perhaps the most typical element of dynamics of decay phenomena and reveals restoration suc- the cultural landscape (Fig. 7). Some of the terraces are cess or failure. A few examples may illustrate typical decay protected monuments (Seyfried et al. 2003). Chiefy, the phenomena associated with local building stone (cf Stück walls prevent soil erosion, but they are important in many et al. 2018). respects. They add the “green terrace texture” to the land- scape. As mentioned above, they constitute an important Monastery Memleben habitat for rock-dwelling fauna and fora. Due to their heat storage capacity, they infuence the microclimate of the Memleben is located about 4 km west of Nebra at the vineyard terraces. However, from today’s vintners’ point of river Unstrut. The monastery was founded close to the

1 3 Environmental Earth Sciences (2018) 77:58 Page 7 of 12 58

Fig. 7 Terraced vineyards with walls and vineyard cabins (Schwei- genberge, Freyburg)

by emperor Otto II in 979 AD and gained the status as an abbey and imperial immediacy for a short time, until 1015 AD (Wittmann 2001). Hence, the building may be consid- ered as one of the most important historic landmarks in the region. The foundations of the monumental Ottonian church, some sidewalls and the southeastern parts of the exterior wall of the nave (including a side portal) are pre- served. A smaller second church was erected northeast of the frst building in the Thirteenth century. Here, the ruins Fig. 5 The “Stone Album“(near Großjena) showing various weather- of all walls, and a crypt, are preserved. The exterior walls ing phenomena on the outcropping rock (Middle Buntsandstein). a overview, b small, heavily weathered section consist of stones taken from Lower and Middle Buntsand- stein strata. Weathering phenomena observed for the build- ing stones depend on their lithotypes as well as on their positions in the wall (Stück et al. 2018; Fig. 8). Generally, the long-term durability of the of the Bernburg Formation sandstones (Lower Buntsandstein) is higher than that of the Middle Buntsandstein (e.g., Nebra Sandstone, Hardegsen Formation; cf. Fig. 4). For future restoration, use of the more durable sandstone should be considered.

The rock relief Stone Album (“Steinernes Bilderbuch”)

This extraordinary monument is located directly at the Unstrut near Großjena. Despite progressive disintegration (Stück et al. 2018; Fig. 5), many details are still clearly visible, or have been reconstructed during past restoration Fig. 6 Ruined tower of the Wendelstein castle (Memleben). Volume eforts. However, reasons for progressive decay are not well expansion of building stones upon uptake of water of the anhydrite causes inclination or bending of walls, but also reflling of existing understood and may in outcropping rocks difer from decay clefts of building stone. Moisture, penetrating from the vineyard terrace above the monument is one possible reason for mobi- lization of salts (Wedekind 2014). Resulting salt burst may imperial palace of Memleben (the precise location is still be the cause for the reported surface disintegration. not known—perhaps at the site of the Wendelstein castle) Recent monitoring and restoration measures started by the

1 3 58 Page 8 of 12 Environmental Earth Sciences (2018) 77:58

Fig. 9 The Kathert vineyard near Karsdorf with vineyard cabin and adjacent dry grassland and shrubs

The cabin dates back to the frst half of the past century. The plastered walls of the main room are decorated above the windows with circular stencil ornamentation. On the walls, in black letters, various aphorisms referring to viticul- ture were added in later times. Elaborate restoration would be inadequate for the unpretentious cabin, but the vineyard itself and its surroundings are representative of traditional viticulture in the cultural landscape (e.g., Bergmeier and Möhler 2014, see below). Although roof tiles were missing Fig. 8 Monastery Memleben, lithologies (a) and weathering phe- or broken and the mortar damaged, the construction as a nomena (b) at a portal (cf. Stück et al. 2018). a Purple: Bernburg whole was not afected. Restoration aimed at maintaining sandstone, green, red: sandstones taken from Middle Bundsandstein the status quo and improving the appearance of the interior strata (green: Nebra sandstone). b Orange/red: formation of chips/ scales; yellow: growth of lichens/algae; blue: backweathering (Fig. 10). To this efect, cracks were closed, and missing plaster areas were complemented with clay mortar. Detached areas of the distemper paint were glued onto the clay plaster end of the last century and are continued under guidance with the aid of injected tylose (methyl cellulose) solution. of the restorer Peter Fiedler (Moritzburg). The restoration Cyclododecane was used as a protective fnish. The ban- measures included scafolding and strengthening the rock ners were supplemented. Sagged cement tiles of the foor as well as renewal of dry walls, removal of soiling and foul- were picked up, the foor was stabilized and the tiles re-laid. ing and applications of salt storage plasters for desalination. Torn tiles and joints were covered with a thin, fuid mortar. Missing shingles were replaced by traditional brick shingles. Exemplary restoration of a vineyard cabin Backweathered mortar in the masonry was repaired with lime mortar. In the past, vineyard houses were small but signifcant agri- The house is now in a condition ready to be entered by cultural buildings. Vineyard guards stayed in the cabins to visitors. Along with several information boards (Fig. 11), it prevent theft of the ripe grapes. were stored in the is part of the cultural landscape trail of the vineyard and its cabins and vineyard workers had a place for recreation and surroundings. shelter. In the nineteenth century, more prestigious cabins served as belvedere and summer house. The Kathert vineyard A small modest cabin on the Kathert vineyard near Karsdorf is rather typical of its kind. With a ground area of This vineyard is not only an example for the development approx. 4 × 6 m, walls of limestone rubble and a saddleback of viticulture in the region but also an important part of roof the cabin sits on a steep slope (Fig. 9). It is divided into the entire cultural landscape. The vineyard is embedded in a narrow vestibule and a main room. From the vestibule, a the semi-natural dry grassland complexes of the “Karsdorf ladder provides access to a narrow attic. Both vestibule and slopes.” The location of the vineyard on the edge of the attic provide storage space for farming tools. The main room plateau with the Unstrut valley in front below is was heatable. an appropriate site to understand the development of the

1 3 Environmental Earth Sciences (2018) 77:58 Page 9 of 12 58

found (Bergmeier and Möhler 2014). On the vineyard, rare ruderal plants (Anchusa ofcinalis, Nepeta cataria, Torilis arvensis) as well as species from the adjacent dry grass- land and coppice margins occur (e.g., Allium oleraceum, Asparagus ofcinalis and Prunus mahaleb). Although the land-use is non-intensive and herbicides are not applied on the vineyard, bulbous and nutrient-demanding species of the typical “Hackfora” (see above) are absent because manual hoeing has been abandoned in the past decades. Adjacent coppice woodland (with Corylus avellana, hazel, prevail- ing) exhibits Viola mirabilis, Polygonatum odoratum, Orchis purpurea, Epipactis atrorubens, E. helleborine, Cepha- lanthera damasonium and Anthericum ramosum, to name but some of the remarkable species. Characteristic plants of the dry grassland adjacent to the vineyard (on gypsum and limestone soils) are Sesleria caerulea, Teucrium mon- tanum, T. chamaedrys, Adonis vernalis, Festuca valesiaca, Thymus praecox, Helianthemum canum, Allium senescens, Campanula glomerata, Cuscuta epithymum, Stipa capillata, Carlina acaulis and Gentianopsis ciliata. This plant com- munity (Teucrio-Seslerietum) represents the most typical dry grassland in the area (cf. Becker 2000). The ruderalized vineyard/dry grassland/shrubland com- plexes are also important hotspots for arthropods, in particu- lar hymenopterans, lepidopterans and orthopterans (Epper- lein et al. 2014). Among the solitary bees on the vineyard complexes, eighteen species are on the red list of Saxony- Anhalt. Typical species present on the Kathert vineyard are Halictus subauratus, Lasioglossum glabriusculum and L. interruptum. Lasioglossum clypeare and L. pygmaeum, generally very rare species, were also observed. Osmia bicolor is generally quite frequent on calcareous soil, but is Fig. 10 Kathert’s vineyard cabin after restoration. a Behind the cabin, threatened with extinction in Saxony-Anhalt and was also limestone tiles for a small terrace were laid. b Restored foor tiles of found on the vineyard. Osmia nests in empty snail shells. the central room. c Wall section with banner Nomada distinguenda, a “cuckoo bee” parasitizing other bee species, notably Lasioglossum villosulum, is also threatened landscape—it presents much of the cultural landscape in a by extinction. nutshell. Non-intensive traditional land-use, the proximity Several other peculiar species are the emerald wasp to other important cultural landmarks and the small-scale Chrysura trimaculata, the sphecoid wasp Psenulus brevi- patterned landscape around makes this site ideal for setting tarsis, the pollen wasp Celonites abbreviatus and the tiphiid up a cultural landscape trail. This trail is designed to convey wasp Tiphia villosa. The crabronid wasp Trypoxylon beau- key aspects of landmarks, viticulture and surrounding natu- monti was recorded for the frst time in Saxony-Anhalt. ral vegetation to visitors (Fig. 11). Among grasshoppers, in addition to frequent generalists, Currently, there are about 1000 grapevine plants in the the rare Stenobothrus nigromaculatus should be mentioned. vineyard in a mixed set with at least 19 diferent grape culti- The species is found on dry open, stony ground. The blue- vars. Among them are rare varieties, some endemic, which winged grasshopper, Oedipoda caerulescens, is frequent on are no longer cultivated commercially, such as Schwarzer the vineyard and adjacent areas. Other species are Steno- Heunisch, Tauberschwarz, Afenthaler or Clairette. The bothrus stigmaticus and S. lineatus, Omocestus haemor- plants are ungrafted, the planting year can be assumed well rhoidalis, Chorthippus brunneus, Platycleis albopunctata, before 1900. Gomphocerippus rufus and Tetrix tenuicornis, which are all The surrounding dry grassland infuences the plant and typical for xerothermous biotopes. animal communities on the vineyard itself. On an area of More than 20 butterfy species were recorded on the just 5 hectares, nearly 300 species of fowering plants were vineyards and neighboring dry grassland areas. Boloria dia,

1 3 58 Page 10 of 12 Environmental Earth Sciences (2018) 77:58

Fig. 11 Design examples of cultural landscape trail image plates placed at the Kathert vineyard

Polyommatus coridon, and P. bellargus were frequent on galathea and Pyrgus malvae. The rarely observed hermit the vineyard and dry grasslands—besides the most common (Chazara briseis) was also detected in the study area, but small white (Pieris rapae). The following recorded butter- on dry grassland only. fies are also relevant for nature conservation: Coenonym- All these insects on the Kathert vineyard represent a large pha arcania and C. pamphilus, Colias alfacariensis, Eryn- subset of vulnerable or endangered species found in the nis tages, Lasiommata megera, Maniola jurtina, Melanargia area (see, e.g., Vischer 2002), thus calling for conservation

1 3 Environmental Earth Sciences (2018) 77:58 Page 11 of 12 58 measures to maintain the status quo. Non-intensive land-use and would overburden individuals as well as communities. on the vineyard allows species from the neighboring dry A “sustainable” concept of restoration (Wedekind 2014), grassland to spread and take advantage of the fne-scaled however, without over-ambitious fnancial eforts but with habitat diversity (which is uncommon even for traditionally sense of proportion and with sound judgment of experts and managed vineyards because of intensive tillage). Generally, practitioners alike, may be feasible to link and visualize for management of the surrounding dry grasslands (removal of both residents and visitors many objects in a coherent cor- upcoming shrubs) would preserve the area’s plant and ani- ridor that are interrelated but only at second glance. mal diversity.

Conclusion References

Anonymous (2006) Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor pres- As a result of profound changes in human land-use through- ervation and management plan. National Park Service, Erie out the , most landscapes have become complex Canalway National Heritage Corridor, Waterford mosaics of natural, agricultural and architectural elements. Anonymous (2008) Kulturlandschafts-Entwicklungskonzept. Zweck- Just few of the most outstanding cultural landscapes have verband Welterbe oberes Mittelrheintal. St. Goarshausen Anonymous (2013a) Silk roads: initial section of the silk roads, the been, so far, included in the World Heritage list (nearly 90 routes network of Tian-shan corridor. State Administration of worldwide, about one-third of them in Europe). In Cen- Cultural Heritage of the People’s Republic of China, Ministry of tral and Western Europe, just three river valleys have been Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ministry acknowledged as cultural landscapes so far (Loire Valley, of Culture and Tourism of the Kyrgyz Republic Anonymous (2013b) Masterplan Welterbe oberes Mittelrheintal. Min- Upper Middle Rhine Valley, Wachau—Danube Valley). The isterium für Wirtschaft, Klimaschutz, Energie und Landesplanung delisting of the - Valley in 2009 highlights the Rheinland-Pfalz, , 694 severe conficts between preservation of cultural landscapes Anonymous (2015) Begründung zur Neubekanntmachung des Flächen- and the demands of actual landscape use. In the Upper Mid- nutzungsplanes Naumburg (Saale). Stadt Naumburg (Saale), Naumburg (Saale) dle Rhine Valley, high urbanization and multiple trafc lines Bahn BW (2014) Ur- und Frühgeschichte der Kulturlandschaft an continuously challenge the priority demands of landscape Unstrut und Saale. In: Siegesmund S, Hoppert M, Epperlein K preservation. (eds) Natur – Stein – Kultur – Wein: Zwischen Saale und Unstrut. Of course, many landscapes in Europe and worldwide mdv, Halle (Saale), pp 93–123 Becker T (2000) Die Bedeutung des unteren Unstruttales für den sufer from losing their characteristics due to extended over- Schutz der Xerothermrasenfora in Deutschland. Hercynia NF printing by impervious surface coverage, river regulation 33:99–115 and industrialized agriculture. The rather low industrialized Bergmeier E, Möhler H (2014) Der Kathertsche Weinberg bei Kars- (with the lower Unstrut in its western part), dorf/Unstrut – Flora und Vegetation eines Stückchens Kulturland- schaft. In: Siegesmund S, Hoppert M, Epperlein K (eds) Natur in contrast, sufered from a loss in population by 25% dur- – Stein – Kultur – Wein: Zwischen Saale und Unstrut. mdv, Halle ing the last twenty years. The consequences, like shrinking (Saale), pp 151–162 towns, impoverishment of communities and abandonment Bertemes F, Northe A (2011) Die Kreisgrabenanlage von Goseck. of marginal arable land also threaten existing structures in Archäologie in Sachsen-Anhalt, Neue Folge 5:13–36 Ehser A, Borg G, Pernicka E (2011) Provenance of the gold of the cultural landscapes. On the other hand, targeted landscape Early Bronze Age Nebra Sky Disk, central Germany: geochemi- re-structuring and supporting projects for preservation of cal characterization of natural gold from Cornwall. Eur J Mineral the cultural landscape may become feasible. Many items 23:895–910 of the early industrial and earlier cultural heritage (mills, Epperlein K, Mächling C, Peix M, Semke L, Zech L, Richter K (2014) Interessante und seltene Tiere in den Weinbergen des Tales der medieval architecture, terrace-walled vineyards with cabins) Unstrut. In: Siegesmund S, Hoppert M, Epperlein K (eds) Natur are preserved, but necessary change of use of these objects – Stein – Kultur – Wein: Zwischen Saale und Unstrut. mdv, Halle has to be planned carefully. With respect to the concept of a (Saale), pp. 221–233 cultural landscape corridor, developed to increase the tour- Jaeger JAG, Madriñán LF, Soukup T, Schwick C, Kienast F (2011) Landscape fragmentation in Europe. Eur Environ Agency Rep istic valorization of landscape elements and historic archi- 2:1–87 tecture, the Saale-Unstrut area no doubt has a high potential Jäger K-D (1962) Über Alter und Ursachen der Auelehmablagerung but still has half way to go. While the historic centers of the thüringischer Flüsse. Praehistorische Zeitschrift 40:1–59 main towns (Freyburg and Naumburg) and many other loca- Litt T, Wansa S (2008) Quartär. In: Bachmann GH, Ehling B-C, Eich- ner R, Schwab M (eds) Geologie von Sachsen-Anhalt. Schweiz- tions (Neuenburg, Goseck, Arche Nebra) appear to be well erbart, Stuttgart, pp 293–325 developed in this respect, other outstanding elements are less Müller A, Beutler G, Siegesmund S (2014) Geologie des Triaslandes developed or neglected, such as Wendelstein castle and the und Landschaftsentwicklung. In: Siegesmund S, Hoppert M, “Stone Album.” In order to shape the cultural landscape cor- Epperlein K (eds) Natur – Stein – Kultur – Wein: Zwischen Saale und Unstrut. mdv, Halle (Saale) pp 293–320 ridor, excessive restoration of many objects is unnecessary

1 3 58 Page 12 of 12 Environmental Earth Sciences (2018) 77:58

Schlesinger W (1975) Flemmingen und Kühren. Zur Siedlungsform Tillmann JE (2005) Habitat fragmentation and ecological networks in niederländischer Siedlungen des 12. Jahrhunderts im mittel- Europe. Gaia 14:119–123 deutschen Osten. In: Schlesinger W (ed) Vorträge und Forschun- Vischer M (2002) Bienen- und Wespenzönosen (Hymenoptera Acu- gen: Die deutsche des Mittelalters als Problem leata) ausgewählter Steillagenweinberge im Saale-Unstrut-Gebiet der europäischen Geschichte. Jan Thorbecke, Sigmaringen, pp (Sachsen-Anhalt). Hercynia NF 35:275–293 263–309 Vlček E, Mania D, Mania U (2000) A new fnd of a Middle Pleisto- Schmidt E (1933/34) Aus der wasserwirtschaftlichen Vergangenheit cene mandible from Bilzingsleben, Germany. Naturwissenschaf- des Unstruttales. Aratora (AF), 23/24:3–55, ten 8:264–265 Schmitt R (2014) Mittelalterliche Bauwerke zwischen Wendelstein Wedekind W (2014) Schwierige Ruinen – Zur Erhaltung der Ruinen und Naumburg. In: Siegesmund S, Hoppert M, Epperlein K (eds) und Felsmonumente an der Unstrut. In: Siegesmund S, Hoppert Natur – Stein – Kultur – Wein: Zwischen Saale und Unstrut. mdv, M, Epperlein K (eds) Natur – Stein – Kultur – Wein: Zwischen Halle (Saale) pp 237–265 Saale und Unstrut. mdv, Halle (Saale), pp 293–320 Seyfried P, Oszmer S, Steinecke U (2003) Denkmalverzeichnis Sach- Williams T (2014) The silk roads—an ICOMOS thematic study. Inter- sen-Anhalt, Bd. 9.2 Burgenlandkreis. Michael Imhof, Petersberg national Council of Monuments and Sites, Charenton-le-Pont, Stück H, Koch R, Siegesmund S (2013) Petrographical and petrophysi- cal properties of sandstones: statistical analysis as an approach to Wittmann H (2001) Memleben: Königspfalz – Reichskloster – Probstei. predict material behaviour and construction suitability. Environ Michael Imhof, Petersberg, p 351 Earth Sci 69:1299–1332 Wittmann H (2008) Im Schatten der Landgrafen—Studien zur adeligen Stück H, Platz T, Müller A, Siegesmund S (2018) Natural stones of Herrschaftsbildung im hochmittelalterlichen Thüringen. Böhlau, the Saale-Unstrut Region (Germany): petrography and weathering Köln phenomena. Environ Earth Sci (this volume Stück)

1 3